WOMEN
Women’s Football finally played in Somalia
The world Football governing body, FIFA has welcomed the move by Somalia to finally start engaging with women’s Football.
On March 8th, 2024 women’s football was finally played in the capital Mogadishu to commemorate International Women’s Day with Futsal match.
SWF women’s football team, defeated their rivals of SSC by 3-1 in the maiden women’s futsal match, which fully broke the barriers that once prevented Somali women from playing football.
Gelson Vernandes, the FIFA director for member associations Africa welcomed that Somali women are now officially playing football.
“We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the Somali Football Federation for the activities organized, particularly to mark International Women’s Day. It is admirable to see such openness and to allow women to play and enjoy this sport. This initiative demonstrates a strong desire to promote gender equality and inclusion in football,” said Vernandes.
President of the Somali Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Mohamed also praised the Women’s committee in the Federation of organizing the match to ensure women’s football officially starts in Somalia.
“I am really overjoyed that my long-standing dreams have become true. The futsal match was the start of a series of activities for the girls and young women who have been well involved in training programs for the past several months. Our aim is to see Somali women being fully active in the international football calendar very soon, added the President.
Ibtisam Yassin, the SFF head of Women’s football also said they are pleased that the department was able to organize a futsal match after several months of trainings and awareness workshops for both parents and girls.
“Our efforts paid off and we will continue organizing the awareness workshops for parents and girls plus the training programs, as this strategy has yielded positive results,” she added.
The head of Communication in SFF, Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar pointed out that having women’s football start in Somalia is a real sig of removal of cultural barriers.
“In Somalia, women have never played official football due to cultural barriers, as Somali parents never allowed their daughters to play football, because Somali parents recognized women’s football “the worst shame” and crime against Somali culture and religion, but after months of awareness workshops some parents have allowed their daughters to play the game,” added Abokar.
He also made it clear that now the awareness workshops are part of the SFF strategy to develop women’s football and overcome the cultural barriers that once prevented Somali women getting the opportunity to play the game.
JKT Queens WFC are the champions of the 2024/2025 Tanzania Women’s Premier League.
The League was decided on May 20th with five matches played at different Stadiums. JKT Queens who also emerged champions in the 2022/2023 season came top.
JKT Queens stopped Gets Program 5-0 in a match played at the Jumhuri Stadium in Dodoma, while second placed Simba Queens WFC defeated Alliance Girls 2-0.
The JKT Queens team finished with 47 points just like Simba Queens, but scored more goals and conceded less. Yanga Princess who recruited massively during the transfer season finished third with 39 points.
JKT Queens who boost of star players like Winifrida Gerald and Stumai Abdallah among others will now represent Tanzania in the CAF Zonal Champions League qualifiers.
Rayon Sports WFC are the champions of the 2024/2025 Rwanda Women’s First Division League.
In their last League match played on Sunday, Rayon Sports WFC settled for a 2-2 draw against Bugesera WFC.
Under coach Iquel Fleury Rudasingwa Rayon Sports WFC finished with 57 points from 22 matches played and lost only one match.
Indahangarwa WFC who stopped Fatima WFC 1-0 in their last League match on Sunday finished second with 48 points from 22 matches played.
Rayon Sports WFC who also lifted the title in the 2023/2024 season will now represent Rwanda in the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers
Rwanda through to round 2 in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers
Rwanda has qualified for the second round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
After stopping Zimbabwe 2-1 in the first leg few days ago, Rwanda followed it up with a goalless draw in the return leg played on Wednesday in Kigali Pele Stadium.
Coach Andre Cassa Mbungo’s team will now prepare to face Nigeria in the second round.
South Sudan who have a 5-0 advantage over Djibouti will return to action against the same side on Friday in the second leg as they look destined to book a place in the second round.
The second round of the qualifiers will be played in September 2025 with Ethiopia facing Kenya, and Tanzania battling Angola in some of the matches. Uganda will take on Namibia, while Burundi battle Zambia in some of the other matches.
Four teams will qualify to represent Africa at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to take place in Poland.
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC are the champions of the 2024/2025 Ethiopia Women’s Premier League.
Coach Heye Gizaw Birhanu’s team were crowned champions for the fifth straight season on Sunday.
In their last Premier League match Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC stopped Adama City WFC 5-0 with Rediet Asersahgn and Nigest Bekele each scoring a brace.
Senaf Wakuma who emerged top scorer of the League with 22 goals was also on the score sheet.
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia finished unbeaten with 62 points, while Hawasa WFC and Sidama Coffee WFC finished second and third respectively.
Birhanu will have the opportunity to guide his team in the CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal qualifiers as they try to defend the title they won last year in Addis Ababa.
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